More on this

Raleigh, N.C. — Rep. Chris Malone, R-Wake, is the latest legislative Republican to call for the repeal of House Bill 2, using a mailer paid for by the North Carolina Republican Party to announce he now opposes a bill he voted for in March.

"Over time, HB2 has become a distraction from important issues and is hurting North Carolina's image," Malone said Wednesday via email in response to questions about the flier. "That's what I hear from my constituents, and it's what I've observed. Last month, I concluded that we have plenty of laws already on the books to prevent inappropriate behavior in bathrooms. We should enforce those laws to stop the few bad apples in the bunch and stay focused on recruiting more business and industry to North Carolina."

NC voter resources
Malone, who is finishing his second term in the state House, is running against Democrat Terence Everitt for re-election.

The fact that the campaign mailer carried a notice it was paid for by the Republican Party prompted a triumphant, but misleading, statement from the North Carolina Democrats.

House Bill 2

House Bill 2 is the shorthand term for the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act, a measure that deals with LGBT rights.

State lawmakers passed the bill in response to the Charlotte City Council creating an ordinance that required businesses to allow transgender individuals to use the bathroom of their choice. While House Bill 2 effectively struck down that ordinance, it went further.

While it doesn't set policy for private businesses directly, the measure requires governments, including public school districts and the University of North Carolina system, to require transgender individuals to use the bathroom corresponding to the sex listed on their birth certificates, even if that doesn't correspond to how they live now.

The measure also sets a statewide nondiscrimination policy, but that policy excludes LGBT people. Because the bill requires all local governments to follow state policy, it effectively negates local contracting policies and ordinances meant to protect LGBT people.

One piece of House Bill 2 that dealt with suing in state court for discrimination on a number of fronts, including on the basis of race or age, was rolled back by a law passed in the summer of 2016.

House Bill 2 is now the subject of a number of federal lawsuits as well as ongoing controversy. The NBA cited the measure when it pulled its 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte, as did the NCAA and the Atlantic Coast Conference when they shifted a number of college championship series out of the state.

"In a desperate attempt to save him, the NC GOP is now admitting that HB2 is unnecessary, hurting our economy and should be repealed," said Dave Miranda, a North Carolina Democratic Party spokesman.

Parties regularly send out mail on behalf of candidates, often because they can get better printing and mail rates. It's typical to see campaign reports that reflect cash donations from candidates to the party that are then cycled back to the candidates as in-kind donations.

"As stated on the mailer itself, this is Chris Malone's position, sent to his voters in his district," said Dallas Woodhouse, executive director of the Republican Party. "We have a diverse set of members with diverse views."

House Bill 2 passed its final vote in the state House 82-26, with 71 Republicans, including Malone, and 11 Democrats backing the measure.

"It seems the only person who could finally convince Chris Malone that HB2 was causing real damage was his pollster," Ryan Ash, Everitt's campaign manager, said in a statement.

Despite voting for the bill, Malone has expressed misgivings about the measure. In a response provided to WRAL News' online voter guide, he said the measure "hurt the state." That same response, provided weeks ago, continued, "The election will pass, the small group who were affected will recover and things will return to normal. One final point: The courts are deliberating on HB2 and will be the final arbiter."

Aiden AudricOct 27, 1:52 p.m.

"If she’s going to a shower facility at UNC-Chapel Hill after running around the track, she’s going to use the men’s shower." - McCrory

Demonstrates his very tenuous grasp on the topic of gender identity.

Tony BiancardiOct 26, 10:51 p.m.

Or he could be more truthful and say, "We passed this ridiculous law to tap into the fear and ignorance many people have concerning things they don't understand, but we didn't realize it would backfire."

Lance BoyleOct 26, 6:27 p.m.

Be careful sir, McCoalAsh will soon be McCrying foul about your letting every male in the state use the womens bathroom. You know 99 percent of the males around here cant wait to go in the ladies room. NOT.